Wildlife Wednesday with Ecotour Adventures
Watch: Wolves on the Hunt in Yellowstone!
For millennia, wolves and elk have been intertwined in a battle for life. The speed of an elk, its strength and size, even when bulls drop their antlers in the spring are all evolutionary responses to wolves.
Recently, we watched as 19 members of the 8 MIle wolf pack hunted a herd of around 100 elk in Yellowstone. Want to see what happened? Check out the video!
Wildlife Wednesday Weekly Round-up Cancelled This Week for Winter Guide Training!
We’re stepping away from our weekly wildlife round-up to head into the field for Winter Guide Training. See you Next Week!
Check out all of our past broadcasts here.
Shooting Star Update
Shooting Star Nordic trails were freshly groomed this morning, with soft corduroy and good coverage. Excellent skiing for skate and classic cross country. The dog trail was extended last season to include 5 dog friendly loops, allowing for plenty of variety and distance (approx 4 miles).
Fat Bike Grooming
Thanks Friends of Pathways!
Chris Owen rolling/grooming one of the Upper Cache fat bike trails!
Trip Report – Game Creek Area
Our friends Gwenn and Don W. went on a nice backcountry Nordic ski to ensure healthy social distancing. Animal observations included badgers (freshly dug hole), elk, and coyotes.
It’s a wonderful reminder of how many ways and places there are to get out on (and off) winter trails. Don’t forget to #RecreateResponsibly and please wear your mask!
Trail Creek Nordic
Last Updated: 12/15
Beautiful Winter!
It’s finally starting to feel like real winter today at Trail Creek, with yesterday’s three inches going a long way towards moving the trails into the “plenty of base” range. We also currently have as many classic tracks as we have had yet this season and the forecast calls for lots of additional snow over the next few days, the glory of Wyoming winter is truly upon us!
Today’s grooming was with the Pisten Bully. Yesterday’s classic tracks are still mostly in pretty good shape so all that was needed was a best line skate pass to whip everything into nice skiing condition. For the first time this year a second classic track was added to the close field loop, allowing skiers to ski side by side. While not the covid recommended 6 feet apart, if the skiers keep moving steadily and the winds are insignificant, safe skiing conditions should be able to be maintained.
Looking ahead to the Betty Woolsey race on December 26th, we will probably be setting double tracks in a really wide spacing. Stay tuned for more details on that race soon.
Groomer’s choice for today is Armin’s.
Teton Co./Jackson Parks & Rec
Last Updated: 12/15
The levee is groomed by the Pistenbully and both classic and skate lanes are in good shape. Stilson will be finished with the Pistenbully around 10:00. The school fields will be groomed with the snowmobile until more snow accumulates.
Stilson is in good shape except for one culvert that can’t be filled in yet. The school fields were groomed with the snowmobile. There is a 2-3” base. Three creek was groomed with the snowmobile with a 1-2” base. Classic skiing will be fine but skate skiing will be poor
Tomorrow Cache and Game will be groomed with the pistenbully. Expect some thin areas with a few rocks poking through especially up Game Creek. The may park will be groomed with the snowmobile and expect a thin base like other in town trails.
Teton Pines Nordic
Last Updated: 12/11
We have some fresh snow and conditions will be nice this weekend! Look for full grooming with the snowcat next week if the forecast is correct!
We are looking for volunteers to help out this season primarily during the holidays (Dec 19-Jan 3). Work 2 full days or 4 half days in exchange for a season pass.
The work will be getting people into rental skis, poles and boots and answering general questions. All renters will be outside getting geared up this season to keep things safe and to comply with CDC guidelines. We are fully masked and taking all covid precautions so that everyone stays healthy!
Please reach out if you are interested: tetonpinesxc@gmail.com or (307) 733-1733
Shooting Star
Last Updated: 12/14
Slowly but surely the snow is beginning to fall. We are still a healthy foot away from being able to occasionally utilize the Pistenbully/Snowcat. This weekend’s forecast is calling for some promising accumulations and should increase the potential of opening additional Nordic activities in the following week(s). Anticipate early season conditions to persist through the weekend and reminder that the track is currently available for Nordic Skiing only. Please see the following restrictions for the upcoming week:
- Dog Loops & All Nordic Skiing Trails OPEN
- Sled Hill CLOSED UNTIL MORE SNOW
- Snow Shoeing CLOSED UNTIL MORE SNOW
- Casual Walking Not Permitted
- Classic Tracks Not Set… NEED MORE SNOW
- Early Season Conditions
- Grooming is currently via Snowmobile and Ginzu Attachment (No Snowcat/Pistenbully until more snow)
- **Ski with Caution this Week!…Current Depths and Coverage are Very Deceiving due to the recent Light/Dry Snowfall**
Next Update will be on Monday 12/21 or whenever conditions dramatically change. Enjoy!
Grand Targhee
Last Updated: 12/15
XC OPEN (Last groomed 12/12/2020), Fat Bike CLOSED.
Alta Track
Grooming Schedule: Tuesday, Thursday, & Sunday
Last Updated: 12/15
Skate: Set | Classic: Set
With 7-8” of fresh snow covering the track since Sunday’s grooming, it took lots of passes (with the roller) to flatten and pack the track. After nearly five hours, the south half of the track looked fairly good (minus the snow balls and chunks that kept falling off the attachment) and it was midnight. Without the normal groomer stamina that builds up during the season, I left for a warm bed (leaving the northern part of the track untouched for now). Might have time to get back out today (Tuesday) or maybe can find another groomer to groom the north half of the track. No guarantees, but will try.
Please do not park in the library parking lot.
Trail Etiquette: Please keep your dogs leashed in the parking lot and be sure to clean up after them!
Driggs
Grooming Schedule: Monday, Wednesday & Friday
Last Updated: 12/14
Skate: Not Set | Classic: Not Set
Driggs track will be rolled out this morning. Driggs will be rolled on Wednesday. Trying to compress new snow and hoping to be able to groom on Friday.
Trail Etiquette: Please keep your dogs leashed in the parking lot and be sure to clean up after them!
Sherman Park
Grooming Schedule: Monday, Wednesday, Friday
Last Updated: 12/15
Skate: Set | Classic: Not Set
The skate track is set though it’s thin. The classic track will not be set until we have an adequate base to work with. Early season conditions still exist with weeds and rocks still visible. The walking, dog, bike singletrack alternative was packed down and is getting good use. Enjoy the ride and glide!
Teton Canyon
Grooming Schedule: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday
Last Updated: 12/15
Skate: Set | Classic: Set
Tuesday: On Monday, rolled the deep, new snow. This morning plan to make a couple passes with the Ginzu to reset south classic and skate tracks. Imagine track will remain fairly soft. Finish by 10am.
Southern Valley Nordic
Grooming Schedule: Tuesday, Friday, Sunday
Last Updated: 12/15
Skate: Set | Classic: Not Set
Campground and Yeti’s loops got rolled this evening 7:20 PM. After over 5 inches of new snow and continuing the classic track was not set. The USFS gate to Yeti’s has been closed again due recreational snowmobiler’s accessing Yeti’s groomed trails through the gate. Enjoy the light density pow glide.
No dogs December 1 – April 15.
Teton Springs Nordic
Grooming Schedule: Tuesday, Thursday, & Saturday
Last Updated: 12/14
Skate: Not Set | Classic: Not Set
Rolled out the Skate/Nordic track this afternoon. The classic track was not set. Early season conditions still exist and the snowpack is thin with weeds and cart path hazards. Be careful.
5th Street Singletrack
Grooming Schedule: As needed
Last Updated: 12/14
Singletrack: Set
As of Monday 8pm – skinned in two laps, should be ridable, especially if it sets up overnight. Thanks to whoever skinned a partial lap. Think snow (and bikes)!
Trail Etiquette: Please keep your dogs leashed in the parking lot and be sure to clean up after them!
Southern Valley Singletrack
Grooming Schedule: As needed
Last Updated: 12/12
Singletrack: Set
Happy Hour got a good groom today. All the other trails are rider packed and ripping fast. Some of the sun exposed areas on hillbender are really soft mid-day. Be careful to avoid creating mud and snow ruts by riding early and late when temp are colder to help take care of this resource. We need more snow before we groom the rest of the Singletrack trails. Enjoy the ride.
No dogs December 1 – April 15.
JH Nordic Recreation Masters Clinics
THURSDAYS, DEC 10TH – MARCH 18TH | TETON PINES
8 clinics every other week from 11am-12:30pm, starting on December 10th -March 18th, alternating skate skiing and classic cross-country.
Betty Woolsey Classic Nordic Race- 2k, 5k, 12k (* Sandbag series)
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26th | TRAIL CREEK
Register with the JH Ski Club. A community favorite, honoring Betty Woolsey of Trail Creek Ranch. All ages welcome, interval start. Come dressed to ski and wear a mask!
CANCELLED
JH Nordic Alliance Annual Free Nordic Ski, Fat Bike, Snowshoe Event
Based on our goal to Recreate Responsibly, the JH Nordic Alliance has decided to cancel this season’s Annual Free Winter Trails Nordic, Fat Bike and Snowshoe Event. Stay tuned for January 2022! In the meantime, we encourage you to get out safely, responsibly, wear a mask, keep your groups small, and space out!
We’d love to hear about your outdoor adventures, what your doing to stay healthy, safe, respectful of community health guidelines – send pictures or post on FB and Insta – #JHNordic
